August 28, 2008

Everything's better on a stick

A few days ago, we went to the Fair. And I took pictures. And here's some of them with minimal words serving as their accompaniment.

First things first: this year, we hopped a ride on one of those bike taxis. This was our view. I wish I could share the smell here as well. Some things just don't translate.

Oh, but it made the arrival at those Pearly Gates that much more magical. Hello, Minnesota State Fair.

First things first: you visit the Creative Arts building, and your family admires the Scrapbooking winners, and your husband says, "Aw honey…you should enter next year. You got a shot!"

Then, you eat.

Mmmm. Pronto pups.

Mmmm. Pronto Pups equal to or exceeding the length of one's humerus. Mmmm. And don't forget the fried green tomatoes.

As you make your way further into the fair, the familiar sights warm your heart.

A quick visit to the giant slide is always in order.

Then you wind your way down to the Mighty Midway. Behold, the Mighty Midway.

And you find magic, and high school stoner art, at every turn.

Beloved children risk their lives on shoddily assembled rides.

And not a soul would guess that just 15 minutes after this shot was taken, that Mom, in response to two whining children, would have what one might call meltdown of her own. Ah, fair. You do have a way of bringing out the best in us all.

But all was saved with the amazing concert by Miss Brandi Carlile, who really did put on a show.

One of her encores was Folsom Prison Blues. You can watch a link (not from this night) of her doing the song here. This girl is so damned talented and hot it's ridiculous.

And so, our time at the fair has come and gone. Thanks to my trusty little Kodak Point&Shoot, I have cherished and magical family memories to add to my lifetime collection.

I'm heading to the Tennessee Valley Fair next week where I am entering two minibooks into the scrapbooking contest. One of the things on my bucket-list is to win a blue ribbon in the fair so I guess you have to enter something to win...haha

I just KNOW you'll be envious but I feel the need to tell you anyway...the Village People are playing our fair on September 5th. I've already started practicing my Y.M.C.A. moves....I'm aiming for front row, baby!!

Amen Sister!! Everything is better on a stick indeed! And fairs are always about the food. Whinning kids and momma meltdowns - sounds like we experienced the same fair this year. Yet we'll do it again next year because when else can we eat food on a stick and enjoy all of the sights (and smells.) Thanks for sharing.

Cathy, would you like a recipe for fried green tomatoes? It's so much easier than you think, and then you can have that tasty treat any time you like. Well, any time that there are green tomatoes to be had. Which is a lot more often than just fair-time.

Dang, now I'm going to have to make some for myself since I don't have a fair to attend and buy some fried green tomatoes of my own. Thanks a lot for slinging a craving! ;)

Well, I was kinda thinking the same thing about the poundage after witnessing the Humerus length whatever-that-scary-lookin-thing-was. But I wasn't going to say anything, until you did. But here's a trick. Put a deck of cards on the ground. Put one foot on each side of the deck, approximately shoulder width apart. Keep your back straight and squat down to pick up the cards (one at a time, please- I know what you are thinking.) Soon, your butt will be rock hard and somewhere up around your shoulder blades. I promise. (add in high kicks between squats and it's like doing sit ups without sitting.) I know. I'm a fun-sucker.

funny as all heck Z!
our fair? mango on a stick with chili pepper sprinkles (seriously..not bad) chased down with 'yard long' beer...if you time it right (ie, not lose your cookies on The Octopus), you can follow -up with a waffle cake, malox and advil.
So jealous!! LOVE Brandi Carlile!!!

fabulous photos with even better commentary, as always. write a book already, woman! and i don't mean a "scrap" book (which i own, thank you), i mean a funny, one-woman-show kind of book. you have a serious way with the pen...or keyboard i suppose it would be, now-a-days. i have to know, did you edit these photos at all? they are SO vibrant! glad i stopped by...

Ah yes, Pronto Pups! And the grilled corn-on-the-cob! Mmmmm...I've been to the MN state fair a time or two w/my cousins. It's huge and so much fun :) I really could almost taste, smell & hear all that the fair has to offer through your magical point-n-shoot photos! ;) Looks like you all had a good time.

You should definately enter the fair. You would win hands down. My husband said "are those scapbooking pages"(with a really funny look on his face) they need a bit of improvement. So by that you would definately blow them ALL away.Yes, he does know what really good pages look like we had alot of awesome employees and customers for years.

So much fun. I'm going this Sunday and hope the weather is as perfect as your pictures. I'm looking forward to the deep-fried Twinkies. Did you try the chocolate covered bacon? It sounds more like a guy thing to me.

you always crack me up...but what really cracks me up is your photo thumbnail titles. You are too funny.
went to the MN state fair last week. best pork chop on a stick ever. fried snicker bar on a stick even better.

Hey Cathy... LOVE the photo taken of you and Dan. Assuming that one of your darling children has picked up some great photography skills over the years? (All these years there are almost NO photos of me since I am the one behind the camera... which is OK in my book to not document bad hair and minor weight gain.)

When we went to the fair last weekend, we did not see any building full of scrapbbook pages... I am not a fair-goer, this was the 2nd time in my life and hubby was leading the way. Hmm, he must have been holding out on me.

I'm thinking you'd make a clean sweep at the fair if you entered your pages.

only three extra pounds? you werent trying very hard!!!
lovelovelove Brandi. My favorite is her new duet on Pat Monahan's (from Train) solo CD that just came out. I could listen to it overandoverandover again :)

it's ALL about the foods at the fair. I swear, that's all my husband and I did this year... go around and sample the various foods (including one disgusting fried twinkie). And I LOVE the actions... you introducted them to me a while ago, and ever since then, I must say, I LOVE my photos a LOT more!!!

dang, no wonder my pictures never look as good as yours! today was our second trip to the fair (yes, we are insane) and right now I am soaking my feet...and wondering which house of yours we drove by in our attempt to avoid the traffic back to Highland Park.

We don't get fairs of this magnitude in these parts - thanks for sharing the pics.
But what is a 'pronto pup'? I'm guessing a corn dog of sorts -? Never mind, sign me up for one with a side of cotton candy (diabetes be damned!)

Cathy, I was going to write this last year, but forgot until it was too late. My mom had a cousin who lived near the MN State Fairgrounds. He was actually one of the ones who 'sold' parking spaces in his yard during the fair. He made a chair out of beer cans and would sit in that chair while out in the yard doing the car parking thing. Many, many people wanted to buy that chair, but he wouldn't sell!